My co-workers watched as a girl died

Ok- sorry if this is in the wrong place, and if it is please could a kind mod put it in the right place?

This happened on Monday. I work in a complaints call centre at night. I type up all of the complaints that people have called in during the day. Well, on Monday i was getting to work at about 3:30 (I start at 4) and went up to the call centre office as usual.

When i got up there, all of the workers (about 30 of them usually) were stood around in a circle. I went over to see what was going on, and lying on the floor in the middle of them, was a 27 year old girl who we had worked with for some time. She was unconscious and she was beginning to turn blue. I asked what was going on and someone told me that she had just passed out about 10-15 minutes ago. I bent down and checked her pulse and breathing- there was neither. I asked them if they had called an ambulance- they hadn't. I told them to, and started to perform CPR.

While i was doing this, they all stood around and watched me. I asked them if they had thought to check her pulse- they had, and at that time she didn't have one. I lost my temper there a little- i yelled at them and told them that they should have started CPR then. They told me that they couldn't do it- they were afraid of being sued, which made me loose my temper more. (It did more than that but i don't want to break the T&C codes)

After about ten minutes of CPR she still had no pulse, and i was exhausted- i was shaking sweating and panicking. I told them all i needed help- that i would tell them all what to do, if they would just help me. They would not.
So i kept at it for another ten minutes until the ambulance arrived. They took her away, but unfortunately they could not revive the girl either.

It turns out that she had had a heart attack.

What gets me though, is that her co-workers did nothing to even try to help her, even though at least two of them are trained first-aid officers, and that they had a defibrilator (sp?) in one of their offices. I yelled at them for a while- i know they probably panicked, but we were there for about half an hour and they just watched her die, because they were afraid of being sued.

Her parents are planning to sue them anyway because they watched her die.

They are asking for councelling because they are so traumatised- i would be too if i had just stood there.

The paramedics said if they had have started CPR straight away she may have survived.

I don't know if i'm being too hard on them. I haven't been into work the whole week- it makes me sick just to think that they all watched as their supposed friend lay on the floor dying.

I honestly do not know what to say. I shouldn't still be shocked at reports like this but....

I flagged this thread, and I hope plenty of people see it.

TheRedneck

Terrible story. But I think her parents are wrong to sue. Not that I agree with them just standing around. But because they are merely looking for revenge through financial means, with a bonus for themselves in wealth.

No matter if they realize it or not, they are doing the exact thing that possibly caused their daughters death in the first place if those people were worried about being sued.

I would never go back there. That is sick that they never calld an ambulance.....mabey they pulled a prank that backfired and are somehow guilty? WHY WHY WHY didn't they call an ambulance.....That is some scary stuff. I would avoid them like the black plague.

I'm sorry you had to go through this. I can't even imagine what that must have been like and to then have to look at people you thought would at least try to keep someone alive(which is not an unreasonable expectation) is beyond words.

I understand not going back to work as well. I don't believe I could work with people that uncaring or so concerned about their butts they did nothing. I hope they are sued for a lot. Individually as well as collectively.

I am not sure where you live but I know in *most* if not all of America we have a Good Samaritan law and if you were trying to help someone medically in an emergency, you can't be sued even if your actions at the time were wrong.

Once again I am sorry you had to experience this, but at least you can have a clear conscious in that you did try to help her. I know you are telling the truth based on your comments about being exhausted 10 minutes after starting CPR, people who have never had to do it trying to save a life don't understand how hard it really is. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as you try to reconcile this in your mind and decide your future from this point forwards.

One last thought, they should be traumatized by happened, but more so by their lack of action. I just don't get what is wrong with people now a days.

If any of them were an EMT then the family has at least one person they can sue for sure.
I wanted to say this doesn't sound possible but it is. I would be pissed too if they really told you they didn't want to get sued. More likely people just don't know what to do and they are in sort of shock too. I watched a guy drop dead because nobody would do anything either, they were waiting for someone in charge to tell them what to do. I also came across a guy who sliced his "unit" and was passed out in a bathtub of blood and the trained staff that was with me lost her mind screaming "what do we do...what do we do....what do we do...." I had to pull him out myself but I didn't know either and I was a former EMT. I got her to go call the code
but I couldn't tell at the time where the blood came from. the nurse that showed up didn't know either until he pushed on something and blood came spurting out of his "unit" he lived.
It does take a real crisis to find out if you are one of the few people that can deal with it. Most people can't but of course thought they could.
That image is going to scar those people. I understand your anger. I understand their inability too.
You should feel good because you did something. Not many could.
But for those that used the excuse that they didn't want to get sued...they should be reminded daily that they are scum. But I also want to point out that even though they could be protected by the "good samaratin" law. PI attorneys are scum too and if they can find someone to sue....in this case they are going to go after your company because they have the deep pockets.
I'm really sorry you had to experience that but like I said, you maned up and should feel good about it....in fact, it might just lead you into a new vocation. People like you shouldn't be working in the complaint department...Go get your EMT and work out of an ambulance or be a firefighter or cop.....I bet this experience has left you restless too.
Move on my friend and follow a higher calling.

Originally posted by badmedia


No matter if they realize it or not, they are doing the exact thing that possibly caused their daughters death in the first place if those people were worried about being sued.

Which is exactly why they _must_ sue....... to help spread the word that if you watch someone die like they did that that is illegal and you will _certainly_ be sued.

They didn't even call an ambulance?!

Their true punishment will be living with themselves for the rest of their lives.

[edit on 10/16/2008 by dreams n chains]

that is sad and scary and sickening all at the same time

it sort of makes you wonder if those people had been in her place if they would have appreciated it if everyone just popped some corn, pulled up a chair and stared at them while they died.

i mean i can understand some people being too shocked to function but out of a whole group, someone needs to risk getting sued and actually do the right thing.

if they were going to just let her die someone could have at least held her hand and made the others go the hell on somewhere

Wow just wow this is just an example of the society that we live in. We are condition to be like this to be selfish heartless creatures that can watch someone die. To be fair to the bystanders yes they may have panicked by not giving the women first aid but that doesn't justify the fact that they didn't call 911.

This reminds me of a recent story in New York where a man was hit by a car. The car sped away leaving the victim who was an elderly man sprawled on the floor. No one bothered to call 911 and no one even bothered to offer him any care. This occurred on the very busy Park Street.

Honestly humanity where are our morals going?

-IgN0rAnT

it seems like people just don't even care anymore. I once came across a woman who was O/D on the side of the road and i stayed with her till the ambulance came. No one helped except for one random stranger who i pleaded for help. the sad part was that this woman's brother was there with her but just kept swearing at her for o/d'ing on the pavement.

The world is a sad sad place at the moment...

Well you should be commended for trying - and for really doing what any human should do for a fellow human in need. That said, it sounds like you work with a bunch of ignorant zombies.

It gives me chills to think possibly that the majority of people around me might function in a similar way in an emergency.

I understand your frustration; please be calm though, it sounds like you work in a pretty stressful environment and perhaps that could have been the main cause for her heart attack, was she overweight? .. it really is traumatic, she was so young. All I can think of is how stressful things have been lately and perhaps it got to her? Stress kills, don't freak out too much, or if you do have fun doing it, and disassociate yourself from it so you don't suffer something similar.

People have so much going on in their minds lately I am not really surprised they stood there, it's stupid because people are so detached from reality, or at least some consensus on survival and camaraderie.

reply to post by dreams n chains


Well I'm certainly not sticking up for the people who stood there and did nothing. They should be ashamed of themselves.

But by people being sue happy everytime something happens is what lead to this kind of thing. People just looking for a buck instead of doing whats right. And this is the case on both sides, the people who stood there, and the parents for sueing.

It's a bit late for the people who stood there to do different, but the parents themselves it is not too late.

It's a horrible situation, and I'm not defending the people. But 2 wrongs don't make a right.

Originally posted by badmedia
Terrible story. But I think her parents are wrong to sue. Not that I agree with them just standing around. But because they are merely looking for revenge through financial means, with a bonus for themselves in wealth.

No matter if they realize it or not, they are doing the exact thing that possibly caused their daughters death in the first place if those people were worried about being sued.

-------------------------------------

I thought I was going to be the first to post but I was too long winded.

But the parents are NOT wrong to sue. You can't put a price on losing a family member but our legal system allows for it. I would sue the company, I would sue the workers for not calling 911, I would make every participant rue the day that they stood around and did nothing.
What will they learn from being sued? The company will make damn sure that every employee is trained to dial 9*1*1, even if it takes 40 hours of training to teach them how to find the numbers on the phone!
I would make them train on "the good sameratin law" and I would take 40hrs at minimum wage to do this.
....If it is true that the hospital or ambulance people said that she could have been saved if CPR was done sooner or they got there sooner than I would be going for some huge money.
Now, this is coming from a guy that is less than a year away from taking the BAR and who intends on being a Christian attorney. I'm not going to be a piece of sheet ambulance chaser, but this is a "crime" and I would bring all my passion to a case like this. If anybody just stood around and let one of my children die like that.....they would pay for the rest of their lives so they would never ever forget what they did. If it were me I would offer them the opportunity to work in an emergency room of a hosptial for 4000 hrs to pay it off. Or join the peace corp. Money seems to be the only thing that makes people accountable though.

Originally posted by Ign0rant
Wow just wow this is just an example of the society that we live in. We are condition to be like this to be selfish heartless creatures that can watch someone die. To be fair to the bystanders yes they may have panicked by not giving the women first aid but that doesn't justify the fact that they didn't call 911.

I would say you have summed it up well. At least someone could have called for medical help. It would appear that people allowed her no chance at living.

To the OP, thanks for showing what a person can and should be willing to do to help a another person. If there is karma then you have earned a some that is positive.

I don't know what the laws are in Australia (where I'm assuming this incident occurred), but here in the States we have something called a "Good Samaritan Law" that limits or removes liability from the person rendering aid.

What is a Good Samaritan Law? The most common type of Good Samaritan Law is law that provides someone with immunity from civil liability (a lawsuit) if you go to someone’s aid who is in need of aid. The law provides protection even if you are in fact negligent and do something to the person accidentally that causes injury. Here is a typical scenario where a Good Samaritan Law would protect you:

You arrive at the scene of an accident and see someone who is not breathing. You go to that person and attempt CPR. While performing CPR you accidentally break a person rib. While had you performed the PCR properly you would not have broken the person’s rib, that person may not sure you for the injury as the Good Samaritan Law protects you from that lawsuit.

Most of the laws were enacted to encourage people to lend assistance to those in need. Most people in our society are raised with the belief that you should help those in need. However, in our lawsuit happy world sometimes people are reluctant to help if they are not sure what to do. The Good Samaritan Laws try to alleviate the fear of lawsuits for those who render aid.

www.boatescrump.com...

If you have similar statutes down under, those other workers have no excuse not to help. In any case, rendering aid is the only decent, human thing to do. I, for one, applaud your efforts.

reply to post by PuRe EnErGy


No- she was a slim and healthy girl. According to the autopsy (courtesy of the girls parents- they told me this) She had nothing wrong with her heart. No-one knows why she had a heart attack.

I don't know if her parents are still going to sue- although they are (obviously) mighty angry at what happened.

Thank you all for your comments and support.

Yes it happened "down under" but i don't know if we have a good samaritan law. I would hope we do, but you never know.

There were two trained officers that work there- they never do much- just prance around with a little first aid officer badge on.
The girl enjoyed working there, and had heaps of "friends". She had been there for almost three years- longer than me.

star kitten you should be proud of yourself!
If it wasn't for you her body would probably still be there.

You should fire those "workers" and hire better trained workers.

In first aid and CPR classes in the states I have been told about the Good Samaritan law which provides protection to those that help. You did the right thing by trying to assist her and I don't see how I gould go back there if I was in your shoes. Even if they didnt remember their CPR courses the emegency services operator could have helped them do what they needed to do. If they had an IED there as well that just makes this more of a tragedy.

No excuses for no one helping. Ambulance should have been called. PERIOD.